The main goal of this project is to investigate out-of-equilibrium Cu-As alloys, i.e. 0-10 wt.% arsenic, as used in the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age. The research protocol consists of several steps: equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium phase diagrams in the above mentioned range, evaluation of mechanical properties of Cu-As alloys in the most common metallurgical states (i.e. as-cast, annealed, cold-hardened, recrystallized), and estimation of the loss of arsenic during metallurgical transformations (i.e. melting / casting, homogenisation annealing, recrystallisation annealing) according to the number of iterations, the treatment temperature and the dwell time. The fulfillment of these objectives is of particular importance for archaeometallurgy, a branch of material science applied to archaeology, which also deals with the development and usage of arsenical bronze – the first alloy made by humans. New knowledge in the production, thermomechanical treatments and consequent properties of the misknown arsenical bronzes will be achieved.

ArsenicLoss will:

Investigate and contribute to the construction of out-of-equilibrium phase diagrams for arsenic bronzes up to 10 wt.% arsenic;

Evaluate mechanical properties and characteristics of arsenical bronze such as hardness, ductility, castability or tensile strength;

Quantify and evaluate the loss of arsenic during prehistoric manufacturing processes through re-melting, casting and annealing activities

Marianne Mödlinger

Marianne Mödlinger is a prehistoric archaeologist. Her main research interests include Bronze Age studies, the manufacture and usage of Bronze Age arms and armour, archaeometallurgy of copper alloys, and experimental archaeology.